[R18] The stars are brilliant, so lucky even (The stars are brilliant, the moon rises over the sea) – Chapter 23 of “The Stars Are Brilliant, Even Lucky (The Stars Are Brilliant·The Moon Rising Over the Sea)” [English]

Chapter 23

The side of Shao Shang’s feet was touched. He paused for a moment and looked down, only to see that the hydrangea was very delicately made. White bamboo skewers were wrapped in thin circles with cross knots. Bright lake blue brocade was wrapped in several places, and two or three small bells were attached. When it rolled, it made a crisp and soft sound, like a cat’s gentle cry.

“…This young lady, I’m so rude.”

A clear man’s voice sounded, and Shao Shang quickly raised his head, only to see a young master standing seven or eight steps away from her. He was slender, with straight shoulders and back. He was wearing a deep dark coat with a lake blue skirt and a dot of woven gold, and his hands were in his sleeves.Behind him was a huge lamp with blazing flames. Standing with his backlight, Shao Shang could not see his face clearly.

Seeing that Shao Shang was dumbfounded, the man seemed to smile softly and approached slowly. The maidservants and servants standing beside him immediately put their hands on their waists.The young master seemed not to notice their alertness, and walked up to Shao Shang, stooped down to pick up the hydrangea, his waist was flexible, and when he straightened up, his whole figure enveloped Shao Shang.Only then did Shao Shang see that his crow-feather-like long hair was fluttering slightly when he stood up, as if silk threads were floating under the blazing flames.

The man made a scribe’s bow to Shao Shang in an upright manner, and then walked away until he disappeared.

Is this the end?Shaoshang was confused.

The style of pick-up in this era is very strange. Shouldn’t we leave the hydrangea to her and ask for it later?This is how Bai Niangzi and Xu Xian operate.Or perhaps, they are really here to pick up hydrangeas, but she is just being sentimental.

Shaoshang shook his head, he had never practiced well in this aspect.

In my previous life, I quit the world too early. No one cared about the flat bean sprouts that were flat in front and flat in the back. Isn’t it true that the gangsters in the town also have a sense of aesthetics?After that, her most youthful and restless years were also ruined by the white moonlight boy next door and hellish learning.

Just forget it if you can’t figure it out. Shao Shang is not a sentimental person, so he leisurely continues to stroll along the street and watch the lanterns.

The so-called general trend of the world, if it unites for a long time, it must divide, and if it unites for a long time, it must unite.When the Cheng family walked to a fork in the street, the leadership had a disagreement.

Cheng Shi heard enthusiastic cheers and applause from the other end and suggested watching acrobats. However, Mrs. Xiao saw that the lights in Fengshi Tower not far ahead were like daylight and the crowds were bustling, so she went to listen to Confucian scholars discussing Fu and classics.The couple stood facing each other, pretending to stare at each other with their heads raised, but they couldn’t hide the smiles in their eyes.

Everyone in the Cheng family was very polite. They all took a few steps sideways and quickly chose sides – Sang, Shaoshang, Cheng Song and Zhu Yu stood behind Cheng Shi; Cheng Cheng, Cheng Zhi, Cheng Yong, Cheng Shaogong and Cheng Shu stood behind Mrs. Xiao.

The two factions separated the Chu River and Han territories, and the barriers were clear.

Only Cheng’s mother was in a difficult situation.

Emotionally, she wanted to stay with her youngest son, who would soon leave home for a new job. Intellectually, she wanted to watch acrobats, and torn between reason and emotion for half a chicken leg, she decided to suppress her emotions and follow her reason.

Cheng Cheng hesitated and said: “Yu’er is still young and I’m afraid it will cause trouble to my brother, so why don’t you just follow us.” After all, there are so many people in the sideshow that it is difficult to take care of her.

Cheng Xiaoyu became anxious and quickly hugged Cheng Zhu’s arm, saying in a sweet voice, “No! I want to go with the fourth brother!”

Looking at the first grade students in the kindergarten class, they are all brilliant and upright.What’s more, these days, Cheng Zhu led He around the house to play, catching earthworms, fighting crickets, brushing wooden swords… In the past, Ge Shi was not allowed to do this and that, but now he made up for it all at once. The two cousins ​​were so inseparable that they wished they could sleep together at night.

Cheng Zhu was high-spirited and acted like a big brother, puffing out his belly: “Then you must listen to my orders!”

Cheng Yu imitated the military clasping posture, folded his short and fat arms, and said loudly: “Here!”

Cheng Shi glanced at his wife and pretended to be proud: “This lady, you are not as powerful as we are in numbers!”

Shaoshang wanted to remind him, but in fact there was only one more.

Mrs. Xiao’s eyebrows were smiling: “My aunt is old, my child is young, and we are both young and strong. If you encounter someone provocative later, please give a shout and we will come to rescue you.”

Everyone in the Cheng family laughed in unison and separated. Only Cheng Zhi looked back at Mr. Sang step by step and murmured, “Why don’t I follow you and take care of the two nephews…” Mrs. Xiao couldn’t see how hopeless he was, so she winked. The retinue’s generals stepped forward and took Cheng Zhi away. Listening to his brother’s ouch, Cheng Cheng laughed loudly from behind, unable to straighten his waist.

Seeing that his father was so interested, Cheng Shuo had doubts about his mother’s desire to return home for the first time in his life.The fact is that since Gurdjieff passed away, his father’s depression has gradually disappeared, and he has become more cheerful and cheerful day by day.

She suddenly felt envious of Shao Shang’s decisiveness and sharpness. He never hesitated when meeting people or problems. If she had encountered this problem, she would have made up her mind in a matter of seconds, unlike herself…

The envious Cheng Shaoshang’s cheeks were flushed with excitement at this time, watching the magicians jumping back and forth on the high ropes, flipping freely in the air, flipping over and overturning – she had never seen such a close-up view.

There was also a performer who breathed fire and mist. Cheng’s mother came too close and almost burned her hair. Cheng Shi quickly pulled his mother back and asked the attendants to hold her tightly. He lifted Cheng Xiaozhu above his head and onto his shoulders. Cheng Song also wanted to follow suit, but Cheng Xiaozhu sank much more. He staggered and the two brothers almost fell down together, making Sang and Shaoshang laugh.

Among the people who were shouting and cheering, only Sang was probably the calmest. She smiled and chatted with Shao Shang. While applauding, Shao Shang asked her doubtfully why she didn’t go to Fengshi Tower. It was said that Sang was a very educated person.

Unexpectedly, Mr. Sang joked: “Seeing a sour scholar is enough to make one dizzy, but seeing a sour scholar on the first floor will make one faint to death.”

Shaoshang covered his mouth and laughed.

Among the people in the Cheng family, she now has a Sang family among her favorites.Although they are elders, the two of them talk and laugh like normal people every day. She has never had such a rapport with her roommate in her previous life.When we first met, I thought Sang’s appearance was that of a stranger, but now I know that she has an easy-going temperament, is funny and intelligent, and is the type of person who becomes more likable the longer we get along with her.Third uncle is really lucky!

She leaned into Sang’s ear and boasted: “How did my third uncle marry you in the first place? You are simply a great swordsman, more than enough to match him!”

Sang’s ears rang with laughter, and she tapped Shao Shang on the forehead with her fingers – how dare you say what her third uncle is!

Over there, the two brothers Dazaicong finally had a falling out. Cheng Xiaozhu couldn’t resist Cheng Song, so he came to La Sang’s house to comment.Shaoshang did not follow him, but slowly withdrew from the crowded crowd and stood aside, waiting for his family to watch the excitement.

Standing by the street, the young merchant wrapped his thick fluffy hooded cloak tightly around his body, and touched the soft and delicate snow-white animal fur on the side of his face. Looking at the magnificent scenery of the flower market with lights like daylight, he felt extremely happy.In her previous life, she had seen neon lights, fireworks covering the sky, more crowded crowds, and more prosperous markets, but she had never been as moved as she is today.

She looked up and saw that the starry sky was quiet and deep.Only after you die once can you realize that life is precious. This time, she must savor every bit of beauty in life and live up to these beautiful years.

Just as she was thinking about it, she suddenly felt something strange and quickly turned back and looked around.

I saw several round vermilion lanterns hanging from the eaves of the building five or six feet away. Under the lanterns stood a young man in plain clothes, with a crane cloak on his shoulders and his hands on his back. He was tall and slender, with only his clothes and hair as dark as ink.In such a noisy lantern market crowd, he stood silently, together with the seven or eight guards wearing heavy armor beside him, all standing silently.

Young Shang looked hard, but he was too tall, and his face was mostly covered by a revolving lantern hanging beside the building. The light and shadow were floating and moving, and the rouge-colored light dyed his indifferent curly robe, which was extremely bright and elegant.

Mr. Shang had just passed by where he was standing, and remembered that the revolving lantern painted on it was the story of family reunion.

At this moment, she was suddenly tapped on the shoulder. Sang came over and asked curiously: “What are you looking at?” Shaoshang said suspiciously: “…It seems like someone is looking at me.” Was he looking at her? She was not sure.

But Mr. Sang smiled and said, “My family is very pretty. Isn’t it unusual to have a husband looking at you?”

Shaoshang hesitated a few times, and when he turned around to look again, he saw that the scarlet lamp was still the same, and there was no human figure under the lamp.

——Well, she had two romantic encounters in one night, but couldn’t see a single face clearly. She is really lucky.

The curfew was approaching, and the bells from the city tower were ringing. Everyone in the Cheng family had to return home, and each had something to gain.

Mrs. Xiao made acquaintance with several Confucian scholars and their female relatives at Fengshi Tower. After some conversation, she was invited to the Cheng family banquet the next day to add some scholarly atmosphere to the banquet.Cheng Shi took a fancy to the troupe of miscellaneous actors and planned to recruit them to perform at banquets to add to the excitement.

The soles of Shaoshang’s feet were bubbling, and he fell asleep leaning on Sang’s shoulder in the carriage. Sang originally wanted to squint for a while, but unexpectedly he caught a glimpse of the dissatisfied eyes of Mrs. Xiao sitting opposite. She knew the reason in her heart, smiled and tilted her head to take a nap.

Sure enough, Mrs. Xiao came over early the next morning and complained about why the Sang family only gave Shaoshang brocade to make clothes.

Sang replied slowly, “That brocade is really good. There are many weavers in Shu, but the tyrant who claims to be Emperor of Shu has sealed the borders, so it’s hard for good things to flow out. This was the gift Jiasi received for his birthday the year before last, but it’s a pity that I only got one piece, and the color doesn’t match me. Young Shang has fair skin, so he naturally gave it to her.”

Mrs. Xiao suddenly said: “You are favoring one over the other!”

No matter what she thinks in her heart, the food, clothing and supplies for the two girls have always been equal to a bowl of water.When she favored Cheng Shu, she took the Ge family’s request into consideration.At first glance, Niao Niao seems to be suppressed, but in fact her husband and sons always take care of her every day, and any good-looking person they see outside will always be sent to Niao Niao.The slaves are not blind, so how dare they be negligent.

Sang said, “That color doesn’t match my sister.” Cheng Shu’s skin is light honey-colored, while her own skin color is yellowish. Her daughter follows her husband’s lead in having fair skin, but it is a waste for a child to use such precious brocade to make clothes, and the brocade cannot be stored for a long time.

“Such a fresh emerald color can only be matched by curls.” In fact, Mrs. Xiao’s skin is also very fair, but she is nearly forty, so she is not suitable.After doing some calculations, it turns out that in the entire Cheng family, only Young Shang is worthy of the brocade.

Mrs. Xiao: “Don’t you think about whether Sisi will feel sad?”

Mrs. Sang pretended to be surprised: “Why did Sisi say this? How could such a kind and sincere child like Sisi have such narrow-minded thoughts.”

Mrs. Xiao choked.Well, she was the one who always praised Cheng Shu for his good moral character.

She fought back hard: “I’ll give it as a gift. But why did Niao Niao have to wear it last night? I clearly prepared the same clothes for her sisters…”

“This is Niao Niao’s thoughtfulness. Originally, the two sisters had differences in appearance, but if they wore the same color of clothes, wouldn’t their beauty be highlighted even more? Even though they were dressed differently, it can be said that they each have their own merits.” Mrs. Sang answered eloquently.

Mrs. Xiao was choked again.

She stared at Sang, who looked back with pure eyes.After a while, Mrs. Xiao was defeated.Well, people have their own strengths and weaknesses, and bickering has never been Sang’s opponent.